These are all books that I've read, kept on my bookshelf, and been influential in my own writing and life.
A classic must-read on the significance of mythology!
The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell
This is the most laborious and yet rewarding book I've read in 2026. The depth of characters here is phenomenal and something that I have found extremely helpful in building out rich internal worlds in my own book. This is the exact copy that I have.
Middlemarch
As with many books that remain on my shelf, this book deals with themes around war and social upheaval, but the highlight of this book was the impressive prose and exploration of human nature. This kind of writing both inspires and informs my own wor...
The Beautiful Mrs. Seidenman
This is one of my favorite books I've ever read. Like many of the other books on this list, it takes the time to explore characters' internal depth, and much of the plot is hinged on those invisible twists and turns of thought and reflection, but wha...
